Apparatus for cutting materials



April 3, 1934. E. J. GRANT APPARATUS FOR CUTTING MATERIALS OriginalFiled Dec. 1, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 3, 1934. E, J GRANT 1,953,299

APPARATUS FOR CUTTING MATERIALS Original Filed Dec. 1, 192a 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 3, 1934 APPARATUS FOR CUTTING MATERIALSEdwin J. Grant, Los Angeles, Calif.

Original application December 1, 1928, Serial No. 323,080. Divided andthis application May 28, 1929, Serial No. 366,725

7 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for cutting materials, and moreparticularly relates to means for projecting an intense uniform narrowlight boundary, such as a light beam, upon material 3 to be cut, saidlight boundary or light beam being preferably coordinated with a cuttingmeans so as to bear a predetermined relation when projected upon thematerial to be cut, to said cutting means. 10 This is a divisionalapplication of my previous application, Serial Number 323,080, filedDecember l, 1928, which has become U. S. Patent No. 1,804,080, May 12,1931, and relating to Apparatus for and method of cutting material. Inthe cutting of lumber and other materials, it is desirable to be able tovisually observe upon the material to be cut, the plane or pointsthrough which the cutting means will travel during the cuttingoperation. For example, in slabbing logs, the log is moved into cuttingrelation with a stationary cutting means, and it is desirable that aslab be cut from the log, said slab paralleling the heart-wood or at aslight angle thereto so as to produce a square timber.

It is diificult to estimate the position of the saw with respect to thesurface of the log, and the operator often makes the initial cut in aplane not parallel to the surface of the log, that is, a wedge-shapedboard or slab is cut and a triangular surface is exposed on the log.Furthermore, the log often misses the saw entire1y,.

thereby causing an appreciable loss of time. on the other hand, the cutis too deep quantities of lumber are wasted.

The above is merely one illustration .of a cutting operation duringwhich it is desirable to know through which points on the material to becut a cutting means will pass. Numerous other cutting, sawing andshearing operations are fa- 4 cilitated by the use of the methoddescribed in the previous application, Serial Number 323,080 mentionedhereinabove. Attempts have been made heretofore to cast a shadow or alight boundary upon material to be cut.v For example, attempts have beenmade to position a wire or narrow rod between a light source and thematerial to be cut; so as to cast a light boundary upon the material tobe cut. Shadows produced in this manner have been entirelyunsatisfactory. When these prior devices are employed, the shadows castupon material to be cut are very indefinite, and the edges of saidshadows are blurred. The shadows are, furthermore, very wide as theshadow producing element, such as a wire, needs be suspended anappreciable distance above the material to be cut in order not tointerfere with the cutting operation and the movement of materials inthe logging plant, remanufacturing plant or other workrooms.

For these, reasons, the devices of the prior art so have not beencommercially successful, and at the present time are not being employed.

An object of this invention is to' provide a device by means of which anintense narrow light beam or boundary may be cast upon material to becut.

Another object is to disclose and provide an apparatus capable ofprojecting a definitely shaped light boundary upon material to be cut.Another object is to disclose and provide an arrangement of lenses bymeans of which light may be concentrated and projected in the form of anarrow intense beam.

A still further object is to disclose and provide an apparatus adaptedto project a narrow light beam upon material to be cut from a point atan appreciable distance away from the material to be cut.

It is to be understood that the device embraced by this invention ispreferably used in conjunction with the apparatus and in carrying outthe method disclosed in my prior application mentioned hereinabove.

In describing the invention,'reference will be had to the appendeddrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cutting apparatus adapted to slablogs, one of which is indicated in position upon acarriage, certainportions of the mechanism for operating the carriage and for moving thelog on the carriage having been omitted as these are well understood inthe art.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section, taken along a vertical plane, through thesingle beam projector shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of one form of lens system whichmay be employed in the device embraced by this invention.

Fig. 4 is a section through the lens system shown in Fig. 5, saidsection being taken along a plane indicated at 44- in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of a modified form of lenssystem.

Fig. 6 is a section taken along line 66 in Fig. 5. V

Fig. 7 is a vertical section through a modified 105 form of the.apparatus and projector.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a light grating adapted to be used in themodified projector shown in Fig. 7.

In the sliding apparatus'shown in Fig. 1, the log 1 may be mounted upona traveling carriage consisting of head blocks 2 connected by means of aframe 3, said frame being movably mounted so as to run upon longitudinalguide rails 4, as by means of wheels 5.

The head blocks 2 bear knees 6 which are movable transversely of thecarriage and which may be adjustably positioned thereon. Means formoving the knees 6 are not shown, as such means are well known in theart. The knees generally carry dogs 7 which are adjustably mounted uponthe knees 6, and which are used to hold the log 1 in position upon thetraveling carriage or'head blocks 2.

The cutting member adapted to' operate upo the log 1 may consist of alarge circular saw 8 mounted on a shaft 9 passing through suitablebearings in a suitable framework or bed, the shaft 9 being driven in anysuitable manner, as, for example, by means of a pulley 10 mountedthereon and a belt 11 driven from a source of. power, not shown. The saw8 is so positioned as to rotate in a. plane parallel to the tracks 4 andadapted to barely miss the outer ends of the head blocks 2.

Suspended above the traveling carriage and rails in any suitable manner,as, for example, by means of the brackets 12 hung from a ceiling orother supporting structure, there may be a projector support 13; theprojector support 13 may be adjustable transversely to the path of thematerial to be cut, namely, the log 1, by means of eyes 14 connected tothe projector support 13, said eyes 14 being slidably mounted on thebrackets 12 and provided with means 15 for adjustably locking the eyesin position upon the brackets 12.

One or more projectors 16 may be suspended from the support 13. As shownin Fig. 1, a single projector 16 may be used and a tri-beam projector 17may also be employed. The projectors 16 and 17 may be so mounted withrespect to the carriage 3 as to have the vertical axes passed throughthe projectors 16 and 1'1 at ninety degrees to the plane of saidcarriage or guide rails 4, or said projectors 16 and 17 may be slightlyinclined thereto.

The projectors 16 and '17 may project points, lines or other definitelyshaped beams of light or light boundaries upon the log 1, the projectedbeams of light from the projectors 16 and 1'7 being in alignment uponthe log with the cutting planes of the saw 8 or other cutting means.

Details of construction of the single beam projector 16 are shown inFig. 2. The device may comprise an outer housing 18 having a suitablelight source 19 mounted therein. Any suitable projecting lens system,such as the lens system 20, may be adjustably mounted in the wall of thehousing 18. An aperture plate 21 is preferably positioned within thehousing 18. The aperture plate 21 may be mounted in a frame 22 adaptedto be adjustably positioned within the housing 18 in any suitablemanner.

A spring 23 may be carried by the frame 22 of the aperture plate 21, orby the housing 18 so as to retain the frame 22 and aperture plate 21within the housing, and still permit the withdrawal of said plate andthe adjustment of said plate and frame within the housing 18.

Between the light source 19 and the aperture plate, any suitablecondensing lens system, such as a condensing lens system comprisingplanoconvex lens 24 and a lens 25, may be positioned. Preferably, thelight source 19 is a single filament lamp having a. rather longfilament. The fllament 26 of the light source 19 is preferably parallelto the aperture 27 in the aperture plate 21, so that the condensing lens24 and 25 concentrate the light from said filament 26 upon the aperture2'7. The light from the aperture 27 is then projected through theprojecting lens system 20, and means may be provided for extending orlengthening the beam of light emanating from the aperture 27.

Such means may comprise a double concave cylindrical lens 28, operablymounted exteriorly of the projecting lens system 20. The axis of thedouble concave cylindrical lens 28 is preferably perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the aperture 27.

The lens system described hereinabove is diagrammatically illustrated inFigs. 3 and 4.

In Figs. 3 and 4, thecondensing lens system comprises a pair ofpiano-convex lenses 29, whereas the condensing lens system illustratedin Fig. 2 comprised a plano-convex lens 24 and a lens 25 which presentsa spherical surface towards the lens 24 and an aspheric surface towardthe projection lens system. Furthermore, the

.projecting lens system shown in Figs. 3 and 4 difiers somewhat from theprojection lens system shown in Fig. 2.

It is to be understood that any suitable condensing lens system and anysuitable projection lens system may be employed in the aparatus. It isdesirable, however, in all instances to employ a cylindrical lens of thecharacter indicated at 28, for diverging and lengthening the beam oflight which is projected from the aperture 27 through the projectionlens system. The relation of the cylindrical lens 28 to the longitudinalaxis of the aperture 27 is well shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

A modified form of lens system is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. As shown inthese figures, the lens system may comprise condensor lenses 29, acylindrical double convex lens 30, a projection lens system 20, and adouble concave cylindrical lens 28.

It may be desirable to project a plurality of spaced light boundariesinstead of a single intense beam of light such as is obtained when usingthe aperture plate 21. A projection device capable of producing aplurality of definite light boundaries is shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Fig. 7is a vertical section, partly broken away, through a. device of thischaracter. The device comprises a housing 18 in which is mounted asuitable light source 19a. This light source need not be a singlefilament lamp of the character shown in Fig. 2. Preferably a reflector31 is positioned back of the light source. Any suitable condensing lenssystem may be mounted within the housing 18 as, for example, acondensing lens system comprising the lenses 24 and 25. A projectionlens system 20 may also be mounted in the apparatus in alignment withthe condensor lenses 24 and 25. A suitable grid may then be positionedwithin the housing between the condensor lens and the pro jectionlenses.

One form of adjustable grid is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, and mayinclude a frame 32 carrying tubular members 33 and 34. Extending throughthe tubular members 33 and 34 U- shaped carrier members 35 and 36 may heslidably positioned, the ends of the U-shaped carrier members 35 and 36carrying wires or other delineating members 37 and 38, respectively.

By adjusting the carrier members 35 and 36 within the sleeves or tubes33 and 34, the wires 3'? and 38 may be adjusted relatively to eachother. The entire frame 32 may be retained within the housing 18 bymeans of springs 39 carried by the housing. Any suitable form of lightgrating may be employed. For example, instead of the device specificallyillustrated in Figs. '7 and 8, a glass plate having opaque andtransparent portions thereon may be introduced. Any of the devices ofsimilar character, such as for example, those included in my applicationSerial Number 351,- 692, filed April 1, 1929, and which has become U. S.Patent'No. 1,916,567, July 4, 1933, may be employed.

A device of the character shown in Figs. '7 and 8 will, therefore,project a plurality .of light boundaries or lines in spaced relation,said light boundaries representing dark or shadow lines caused by thewires 37 and 38 upon an intensely illuminated field.

It is to be understood that numerous changes and modifications may bemade in the apparatus without departing from the spirit of theinvention, which is particularly directed to an apparatus for projectinglight boundaries and including means for concentrating light upon adelineating element, and means for projecting the light thus delineated.All the changes and modifications which come within the scope of theappended claims are, therefore, to be embraced thereby.

I claim:

fIn an apparatus for cutting material, means for projecting a narrowbeam of light upon material to be cut, comprising a housing, a source oflight within said housing, an aperture plate in said housing, means forconcentrating light from said light source upon an aperture in saidaperture plate, andmeans for projecting the light from said aperture andlengthening said light in one direction only.

2. In an apparatus for cutting materials, means for projecting adefinitely shaped beam of light upon material to be cut, comprising asource of light, a condenser lens, an aperture plate provided with aslot, and a projector lens system having a bi-concave cylindrical lenswith its axes of curvature transverse to said slot.

3. An apparatus for projecting a line of light, comprising a source oflight, a condenser lens system including a bi-convex cylindrical lens,an

drical lens being transverse to said aperture.

aperture plate and a projector lens system having the bi-concavecylindrical lens transverse to said aperture slot.

4. An apparatus for projecting a line of light, including a housing, asource of light within said housing, a projector lens system mounted inthe wall of said housing, an aperture plate in said housing, a condenserlens between said light source and aperture plate, and a bi-ooncavecylindrical lens positioned with its axis perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of an aperture in said aperture plate mountedexteriorly of said projection lens.

5. An apparatus for projecting an intense narrow beam of light,comprising a housing, a projection lens system mounted in the wall ofsaid housing, an aperture plate in said housing, a filament lamp in saidhousing, said lamp being provided with a filament substantially parallelto the longitudinal axis of an aperture in said aperture plate, acondenser lens between said lamp and the aperture plate, and abi-concave cylindrical lens mounted exteriorly of said projection lens,the axis of curvature of said cylin- 6. An apparatus for projecting anarrow intense beam of light, comprising a housing, a projection lenssystem mounted in the wall of said housing, an aperture plate in saidhousing, a filament lamp in said housing, said lamp being provided witha filament substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of anaperture in said aperture plate, a .condenser lens between said lamp andaperture plate, and a bi-concave cylindrical lens positioned with itsaxis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of an aperturein said aperture plate mounted exteriorly of said-projection lens.

7. In combination with cutting-means and apparatus for moving materialinto cutting relation with said cutting means: means for projectingsharply delineated lightboundaries upon material to be out comprising ahousing, a source of light within said housing, a delineating meanswithin said housing, lens means for concentrating light from said lightsource upon said delineating means, and lens means for projecting meansupon material to be out.

EDWIN J. GRANT.

